Reprinted from the Theology of Work Project; lead contributor Darrell Bock. Weighing in at one mighty chapter, Philemon is the shortest book written by Paul and one of the shortest in the entire New Testament. Given its length, that this book made it into the canon seems initially surprising. And yet a glimpse at this short epistle begins to show us why—this little…
By Isabelle Hamley, reprinted from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.’” Leviticus 1:1–2…
By Bruce Baker, reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. The Economic Wisdom Project is best known for our Economic Wisdom Project Talks, which are short, accessible, engaging and rich presentations suitable for use in classrooms and group discussions. But the EWP also features print resources, including our vision paper and our twelve elements of economic wisdom. Economic Wisdom for Churches, our…
Reprinted from the Chalmers Center. Getting into gear with a healthy benevolence ministry requires more than just good intentions or even good plans. You have to build a process to match. One of the most important factors in a sustainable ministry model is creating a system for how you handle new requests. We call this an intake process. Having a plan that everyone…
To honor Martin Luther King’s contribution to the faith and work movement, we are reposting this article from our archives. It was originally part one of a series. Many in our movement have heard some version of Martin Luther King’s famous “street sweeper” illustration, which calls on workers to pursue excellence in their work and find dignity and meaning in…
By Pam Tinsley, reprinted from Living God’s Mission. I love the fall colors. There’s something mystical in the way that the leaves on deciduous trees slowly fade from deep green to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red. Sometimes I’m not sure what’s more spectacular to behold: a swathe of bright yellow aspens against the backdrop of pine trees or…
By Greg Forster, reprinted from the Gospel Coalition. The march of technology is relentless, and it is always both creating and destroying jobs. It brings many blessings—spiritual and material—but also great costs. For example, seven of Fast Company’s “Ten Most Endangered Jobs of 2014” are classic blue-collar jobs—mail carriers, meter readers, drill press operators, and so on. I’m surprised they left out…
By David Gill, reprinted from the Bay Area Center for Faith, Work & Tech. In the Genesis accounts of creation, we read over and over that what God created was “good” and even “very good.” But at one important place, we hear God saying something is “not good.” “It is not good that man should dwell alone” (Gen 2:18). God…
Reprinted from the Theology of Work Project; lead contributor Leonard Van Drunen. Does finance contribute to the flourishing of society and to serving fellow people? The chairman of the United Kingdom Financial Services Administration argues that significant parts of banking are “socially useless.” Laura Newland, a recent Duke University graduate, in the New York Times bemoans graduates going to work in…
By David Walker, reprinted from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. A month from now, the halls will be decked with boughs of holly, and we’ll be singing “Joyful, all ye nations rise” as we celebrate Christmas Day. For many, it’s an opportunity to press pause on our work and focus on the wonder of the incarnation. For others, Christmas…
The Green Room 